“It’s Tits!” was more than just a snowboard event—it changed my perspective, and ultimately my life.

Over the past couple years, I’ve been yearning for mentorship as an up-and-coming snowboard photographer, but insider knowledge of the snowboard industry hasn’t been easy to acquire. I’ve been wondering how to show my value in this world, how to land a place on the map. It’s about connections, and making those connections can be hard. So, when I got invited to shoot at the all-female freestlye gathering and Boarding For Breast Cancer fundraiser known as “It’s Tits!”, I felt like I made it. I came recommended by Barrett Christy-Cummins; we met earlier this winter at Women’s Week at Baldface Lodge and really vibed. That alone was enough for me to feel seen; my work was finally speaking for itself. I cleared my schedule.

No dig, no ride. Laura Rogoski and friends keeping things clean.

I’ve heard a lot about Holy Bowly and imagined “It’s Tits!” would be a scaled down version for the ladies at Timberline Lodge, OR. Just stoked to get to shred and shoot, I didn’t do much research and arrived ready and open to the experience, without expectation. Upon first glance the features onslope looked fun and inviting—some big, some average, and some friendly. A confidence building butter pad flowed into larger features like a 15-foot-high volcano and big quarter pipe at the end, both of which were large enough to scare yourself. My concerns for the classic shrink and pink criticisms went out the window. The course was built well, with style, ready for send mode.

Yet as the week went on I realized that “It’s Tits!” is so much bigger than just the snowboarding. If anything, the time on the slope was secondary to all the discussions and connections that underpin the event. Surrounded by some of the best female snowboarders on earth as well as some of the top media pros in the industry, we had exclusive rights to shred the course crafted by Snowboy Productions on their 25^th anniversary year, backed by the largest female park crew in North America.

Nirvana Ortanez and Melissa Riitano, veteran rippers with much to share.

It was an opportunity to learn from the best in the industry. Each night there was an in-depth discussion about various topics, including developing yourself as a professional in snowboarding, inclusivity, becoming marketable, knowing your worth, pitching projects, working with brands, mental health—answers to questions I’ve had for a long time. And just like that, some of the greatest legends in snowboarding became my teachers and mentors for the next five days—Jess Kimura, Barrett Christy-Cummins, Megan Pischke, Ashley Rosemeyer, Jill Perkins and many more were excited to share their incredible wealth of knowledge, wisdom in the industry, and their take on how to navigate being a professional in snowboarding. Jill, for instance, explained that being told “No” really means “Not right now.” It means finding out when might be a a better time to reach out, or realizing that your ask needs to change; maybe you need to change your angle, put more of your personality into your pitch, shoot something differently. She and the other panel members emphasized that there could be so many reasons for being denied progress in professional snowboarding, and maybe it has nothing to do with you. They encouraged us to take a positive spin on being told no, and to always try again.

Being around so many epic women, not only incredible at what they do, but also excited to share their knowledge, was the success of “It’s Tits!”. The event was created to celebrate women, and what we bring to the snowboard community. Women are nurturing, inclusive, supportive, patient, and know how to lift each other up, whether or not you succeed at whatever it is you’re trying to achieve. I enjoyed watching gals cheer each other on, take their time learning something new, and collaborating on shoots with athletes I’ve never worked with before.

Megan Pischke and Barrett Christy-Cummins, dropping in.

Over the days, many women shared their experiences of being treated differently in the industry, just for being a woman. Many of us resonated with being paid less, ignored, sexualized, harassed… the list goes on. Yet together, we have a voice, and “It’s Tits!” supports each of us to use our voices by promoting education, being informed, and empowering us to take care of each other. Jess Kimura put it best: we have to carve our own landscape in order to progress toward the change we want to see.

Snowboarding was the fun part. The course felt like a skate park, full of transitions. I saw a lot of progression, from hand plants, to methods, and backflips. Even my photography progressed as I got to know the course, and work one on one with some of the athletes. Everyone was getting it, from big air to trying things for the first time. It was so fun to shoot, and given the organized flow, it felt easy to make connections with new people.

Stefi Luxton.

I walked away with lasting friendships, some incredible shots, and a newfound perspective on how I want to deepen my career and passion as a snowboard photographer. I know I want to dive deeper into freestyle shoots (I currently spend a lot of time in the backcountry) and take more time to work events like this one. It made me realize the importance of lifting each other up, sticking together, becoming allies, and remembering that it’s just snowboarding—we do it because we love it, and there’s something really special about being driven by that love.

Huge thanks to all the inspiring, passionate, and committed individuals, brands, and sponsors who all worked together to make this happen, including, but not limited to Jess Kimura, Barrett Christy, Snowboy Productions, Timberline Freestyle, Capita, The North Face, Sunbum, Tactics, Monster Energy, AirBlaster, B4BC, Diecut Stickers, Krush, all the panel members beyond those listed above, to Mary Rand and the gals who helped me nail Axel stalls at Windell’s, and to the homies new and old for all the laughs and the major stoke throughout the week. Your energy made my experience even more memorable.